June 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The law of God calls each of us to love God and our neighbour as ourselves. But who is my neighbour? In the narrative leading up to what is known as the story of the Good Samaritan, an expert in the Mosaic law asks Jesus, “Teacher of Nazareth, I can love God; but I want you to tell me who, in your opinion, is my neighbour?” He raises a point that was discussed at length by the theologians of the day. The scribes and Pharisees spent endless hours debating who is a neighbour. Gentiles and Samaritans did not rate as neighbours! Some claimed that only a fellow Israelite was a neighbour while others would narrow that down even further. Those who followed the law were the only true neighbours. “Sinners” and tax-collectors were not neighbours but outcasts. To love your neighbour was to love an elite group within the church.

We can consider what these people thought and think, “How could they be so narrow-minded?” But are we any different? Are you and I sufficiently aware that this is where self-righteousness leads people? As soon as we think this does not apply to us, we might want to take a second look at ourselves. Who do we consider to be our neighbour? Do we limit that to the people who think the same way we do? Do we think of our neighbours in narrow terms of friends, immediate family, relatives or members of the church that we happen to get along with? Do we feel extremely uncomfortable associating with people who think or act differently than we do? Our sinful tendency is to narrow the focus and make sure that we and our children don’t have too many neighbours. In this way we can feel good about how we are fulfilling the law of love.

“Who is my neighbour?” The Lord Jesus gives direction. He shows how the lawyer’s question must be answered by giving an illustration. Jesus does not answer his question but changes it. When looking at ourselves in the mirror of God’s law and listening to what He requires of us we shouldn’t be asking, “Who is my neighbour?” but “What kind of person am I?” The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates the point. Go and be a neighbour to those God places on your path without hesitation or reservation! Rooted in the love of God and the grace of Christ, grasp every opportunity to love your neighbour.